By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Local man facing charges of vehicle theft and evading police thanks to LPS and the K9 Unit

Dec 6, 2018 | 1:37 PM

LETHBRIDGE – A 41-year-old local man who fled from Lethbridge Police in a stolen vehicle on Wednesday, Dec. 5, has been arrested and charged. 

According to police, around 6:30 p.m. last night an officer saw a Jeep Cherokee run a red light at the intersection of 9 Avenue and Scenic Drive North while going more than 100 km/h. 

The officer tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused and fled at high speed on the icy roads.

Police received a report just moments later that a Jeep had been stolen from a home on the north side and based on the description provided and the proximity of the theft, police believed the Jeep that ran the red light and failed to stop had to be the stolen Jeep. 

A short time later, at 7:15 p.m., police received a report that a Jeep Cherokee had been abandoned in an alley along the 1200 block of 9 Avenue North with its lights still on. 

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 26, 2024

36m ago

Week-in-review: Federal Budget, water agreements and success for tourism industry

Apr 20, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 19, 2024

Apr 19, 2024

Police went to the scene and confirmed the Jeep was, in fact, the one that had been reported stolen and believed to have been involved in the failure to stop. 

While police were processing the vehicle, a suspicious man was reported running through the yard of a home along the 1100 block of Stafford Drive North after images were captured on a motion-sensor security camera. 

In viewing the images police identified the suspect as 41-year-old Kyle Lee Koch. In addition, footwear impressions were obtained in the yard and matched the impressions at the scene where the Jeep was stolen. 

Police finally located Koch and his own vehicle as he left a residence and drove to a second home.

After knocking and speaking to the suspect, police advised he was under arrest, but he subsequently fled out the back door and jumped the fence. 

A K9 track was initiated, and thanks to the work of PSD Robby, resulted in Koch being found in the backyard of a home along the 900 block of 8 Street North. 

He was arrested without further incident and is charged with theft of a vehicle, flight from a peace officer, dangerous driving, resisting arrest and two counts of breaching a recognizance. 

Koch is currently remanded in custody awaiting a Judicial Interim Release hearing.